Just days before the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Championship begins in Linares, Spain, a major dispute has erupted over the participation of a team made up entirely of Russian players competing under the “FIDE” flag. The Ukrainian delegation has formally appealed the team’s inclusion, arguing that allowing Russian players to compete as a team directly violates both FIDE’s own rules and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines.
Their written appeal, submitted on November 17 in Linares, states that FIDE’s July 18 council decision clearly requires one condition: the IOC must issue a written “letter of no-objection” before any team composed of Russian nationals can take part in a world championship.
According to the Ukrainian side, no such letter was ever issued.
Why the Ukrainian Delegation Is Appealing
In their letter, Ukrainian officials say that if FIDE requested approval from the IOC and received no response, that silence must be interpreted as a denial—especially given the IOC’s current recommendations forbidding teams composed of Russian passport holders from participating in team competitions.
They argue that by allowing the “FIDE/Russia” team to compete without the required IOC approval, FIDE is contradicting its own binding July 18 decision. They also warn that the situation threatens the legitimacy of the entire championship, stating that if the team remains in the event, “all results … and potentially the validity of the Championship itself would be compromised.”
The letter is signed by Ukrainian delegation leaders and team officials present in Linares. Here’s the full letter.
Appeal Regarding the Participation of the “FIDE” Team in the FIDE World Women’s Team Championship 2025
Ukrainian Chess Federation
Linares, 17 November 2025
Dear Tournament Director of the FIDE World Women’s Team Championship 2025, and FIDE,
We hereby appeal the participation of the “FIDE” team composed of Russian players in the World Women’s Team Championship, as such participation is in clear violation of both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines
(https://www.olympics.com/ioc/media/q-a-on-solidarity-with-ukraine-sanctions-against-russia-and-belarus-and-the-status-of-athletes-from-these-countries)
and the decision of the FIDE Council dated 18 July
(https://www.fide.com/2025-2nd-fide-council-meeting-list-of-decisions/).
According to that decision, the participation of a FIDE/Russian team requires a letter of no-objection from the IOC.
No such letter of no-objection has been provided to us or, to our knowledge, to any other team. Furthermore, if FIDE has submitted a request to the IOC and no response was received, this can only be interpreted as the IOC declining to issue such approval, consistent with its recommendations prohibiting the participation of teams composed of athletes holding Russian passports in any team competitions.
The FIDE Council decision of 18 July is explicit: FIDE must obtain written no-objection from the IOC. The absence of a response from the IOC must therefore be understood as the absence of approval.
Given these facts, the participation of the FIDE/Russia team is illegal and contradicts the binding FIDE Council decision. Allowing this team to compete not only violates FIDE’s own regulations but also sends a deeply inappropriate signal that the organizers and arbiters of this event condone a team representing a state currently engaged in armed aggression against a sovereign European nation.
We therefore request that the FIDE/Russia team be disallowed and removed from the list of participating teams. Should this not occur, we consider that all results of this World Championship — and potentially the validity of the Championship itself — would be compromised.
We reserve all our legal rights.
Respectfully,
Mykhaylo Brodsky
Receipt on November 17 in Linares
RAMON PAPULLES – ORG DIRECTOR
Volodymyr Kovalchuk
Captain of the Ukrainian Women’s National Team in Linares
Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko
Head of the Ukrainian Delegation
Ma Quente
Coach of the Ukrainian Women’s National Team in Linares
A Growing Controversy in the Global Chess Community
This dispute is part of a broader backlash that has been building for days.
Prominent players and officials have criticized FIDE’s decision to include the Russian lineup.
- Grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen called the situation “a sad and very shameful day for chess.”
- International Master Irina Bulmaga said FIDE had become “the first federation to allow a Russian team back to a World Championship,” noting concerns about some players’ past participation in events linked to pro-war messaging.
- Commentator and GM George Mastrokoukos accused FIDE of ignoring IOC rules and warned that the move could harm FIDE’s relationship with the Olympic movement.
The European Chess Union (ECU) also restated its opposition, pointing out that the FIDE General Assembly earlier this year rejected proposals to lift sanctions on Russia. The Ukrainian Chess Federation called the approval a “blatant disregard” for Ukrainian athletes who have been killed since the war began.
Some critics additionally raised questions about whether Spain would even be able to issue accreditation or visas to certain FIDE officials, noting past cases—such as Canada’s refusal to grant a visa to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
FIDE’s Position: Neutral Participation Is Allowed
FIDE has defended the July decision by pointing to IOC recommendations that allow neutral athletes in some cases. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, FIDE barred both Russia and Belarus from participating as national teams. Individual players could compete only as neutrals.
The July decision, however, created a new exception: a Russian team could participate under the FIDE flag if the IOC issued a no-objection letter. Critics argue that this letter never came.
The Russian Chess Federation, meanwhile, has welcomed the development. Officials within the RCF have dismissed the backlash as predictable criticism from “our enemies,” and say they hope similar rulings will eventually allow a men’s team to compete as well.
Tournament Moves Ahead With Uncertainty
The Women’s World Team Championship runs from November 17 to 24 and features 12 teams competing in pool play followed by knockouts. The “FIDE” team—effectively a Russian lineup—includes top players such as Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno.
But with the Ukrainian protest now officially filed, the event begins under a cloud of uncertainty. National federations, organizers, and even Spanish authorities may still need to address questions about accreditation, visa rules, and the tournament’s legal standing.
For now, teams are arriving in Linares, the opening ceremony is scheduled, and boards are being prepared. But unless FIDE responds quickly and clearly, the controversy surrounding the Russian “FIDE” team is likely to overshadow the championship’s first moves.
Watch the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship live
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
